Helloo0O Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome back to Graceland Ontario for another week of linking the success principles demonstrated by the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll to how you can implement them in your life. This week we’re going to be talking about the similarities of greatness throughout time and how it never really changes (what I like to call the Success Constant).
If you’re a history buff (or pay attention to the news), you may be aware that this Monday past, June 18, 2012, was the 200th anniversary of the start of the War of 1812.
War of 1812 History Lesson:
If you’ve never heard of the event (a distinct possibility if you live outside of North America, where it’s often overlooked), in short: the American government, pushed by people wanting to conquer the largely unpopulated Canadian colonies (called Manifest Destiny in history classrooms) and exasperated by the British Royal Navy’s tendency to steal American sailors off American ships in the belief they were deserters (which, occasionally, they were), declared war on Britain and, therefore, Canada. Canada only had a small number of British troops (Canada was a British colony at the time), a few native warriors and some militia defending us. The war lasted about 2 ½ years, between 1812 and 1815. In the end, nobody really won; Britain (and its Canadian subjects) successfully defended their land, Britain/Canada attempted an invasion of the U.S. but were repulsed (though, we did burn down the White house). The biggest losers were the natives who didn’t gain anything but continued losing their land to the growing U.S.
End of War of 1812 History Lesson.
One of the most influential leaders of the conflict was British General Sir Isaac Brock. He was born on the isle of Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands off Britain, in 1769. He became noted for his bravery, in both life and the way he died (he was shot leading a charge at the Battle of Queenston Heights in late 1812) and, a hundred-odd years later, he became one of my heroes (yep, right up there with Elvis).
With the bicentennial of the war, I see many similarities between my two idols: they were both strong leaders in their field, they had unique ways of performing, they were both soldiers at one time and, sadly, they both died young (Elvis at 42, Brock at 43).
Now, I wanted to find why both men inspired me so much in my life… and I think I figured it out: they were both so unique and successful and this made me, and others remember them. We respect them so much that we kinda want to be them.
But how does this help you?
Well, let’s make a list of some of the positive traits they demonstrated and see how they can be implemented in your life:
Strong Leaders in Their Field
Both Brock and Elvis were leaders in their field. Elvis had a cutting edge, highly energized way of performing that had never been seen before on the big time when he started in the 50’s. Brock used his bluffing and bravery to win the Siege of Detroit with barely a shot being fired, one of the first victories of the war. He won his knighthood as a result. They led the way for change and the strong, bold way they did this earned the support and respect of others. When you lead the way for positive change in your organization, respect is similarly earned for you being a leader, attempting to improve your work and move it forward to the future.
Different Ways of Performing
Brock and Elvis didn’t act the way most of their contemporaries did. Elvis wasn’t like any other rock star, more interested in the energy than the tune; he liked the music as much as he did shaking, perhaps more. Also, he really cared about his fans, paying attention to them, kissing them. He respected them so much for their support and his humility and thankfulness made him unique. Similarly, Brock wasn’t like other generals; for the man in charge of Upper Canada (present day Ontario) he cared about his men. In fact, it was perhaps this opinion that led to his untimely death at 43 − he would do anything he told his men to do, including leading a frontal assault into an enemy position.
When you do something a bit different than others in a positive way, putting in the extra effort, people notice, and they respect you for it. They respected Elvis for his appreciation of the music and his fans, they respected Brock for his love of his country, his men and the way he made them feel like his equals. That little difference goes a long way in making you seem awesome and unique, which leads to our next point…
Uniqueness
Both Brock and Elvis were, and are, looked upon as unique − Brock for his bravery at the front of a charge, Elvis for a type of passion in his music unheard of nowadays. They were originals in every sense of the word and, as such, were respected.Why do people respect originals? Perhaps because it’s hard to be one for it leads to criticism (people are jealous when others are more creative than they are). But, when done properly, it leads to better results. In a way, being a leader in your field and performing differently to your colleagues is also part of this uniqueness. People forever remember and respect those who were different simply for that − being different. Whether it be Alexander the Great, Socrates, Henry VIII, Brock or Elvis, uniqueness is why their names are in history books.
Impact
Finally, I’d like to talk about these two men's impact on the world. Brock stopped the momentum of the American invasion; it’s quite possible without his effort, Canada wouldn’t exist as it does today (with the Maple Leaf flag, anyways). Elvis created recordings that will be remembered as cutting edge with the power to make people want to hear them 50 years after being released. The impact these men had on others makes them relevant to people who otherwise wouldn’t care. And people remember them for that.
Really, the similarity between these two men, over a century apart with different professions is astonishing. Perhaps it is once more a reminder that success principles don’t change, that they remain similar through time and across professions, something I call the Success Constant. They are present as rules and can be learned if the work necessary to learn them is put in. It’s an empowering conclusion to come to.
Elvis’s Lessons:
Great men (and people in general) are similar in their success principles; success is predictable. Doing certain actions will bring you certain results. Acting a certain way will also bring you certain results, no matter what year it is or what profession you have. This is something I call The Success Constant. By being leaders in their field, performing differently, being unique and ultimately making an impact, both Brock and Elvis demonstrate the Success Constant, and they are remembered for it − two different heroes from two different times but both successful in life, and death. Take their lessons to heart.
P.S. If you're interested in seeing Elvis making an impact on his fans and the world, here's a Youtube video of him with "Blue Suede Shoes" from the '68 Comeback Special.
P.P.S. Please remember to comment below or email me at alexghilson@gmail.com to put forward your stories, praise or constructive criticism.
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